Introduction
Literature review
Implementing HyFlex: considerations
Deployment
User experience
Audio and video
Video conferencing technology
External limitations (COVID-19 specific)
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Good-quality and intelligible sound for and from every online student, for and from every student in the classroom, wherever they sit, and to and from the academic.
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Classroom should be visible to online students, who require a (virtual) presence in the room that is available to at least the academic and potentially to all.
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Security: Equipment needs to be safe to use and online interaction needs to be restricted to the students in that class.
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Portability, budget and scalability: Systems need to be simple and movable, capable of integrating with the technology available in the rooms, and expandable to as many rooms as possible.
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Hygiene (Covid-19 specific): Two-metre distance between students and wearing face masks were required.
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Surface touching had to be minimized, with any surface being thoroughly cleaned before the next use.
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Interactions: Group interaction and discussion between all the students and academics should be possible (see Fig. 3)
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Graphics (pictures, slides, tables, etc.) and text should be visible for online and on-site students.
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Lecture with academic in room should be available to students online and on-site
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Lecture with academic online should be available to students online and on-site.
Analysing how to implement HyFlex
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Every student must have access to a portable device that allows interaction (R-A).
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MS Teams was eventually decided upon, mainly because of the institutional inertia and because it was the main web conferencing tool available (D).
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The number of cleaning staff could need to be increased to meet demand (R).
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Appropriate space, cleaning and timetabling was needed to ensure space, social distancing and cleanliness (R).
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The university needs to consider how to deal with the cognitive load associated with an online and face-to-face session simultaneously, for both staff and students (R)
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The university needs to consider how to ensure equity for all students and parity of experience when online and face-to-face simultaneously, so that both groups of students get the same quality of education (R)
Technical set-up
Set-up | Pros | Cons |
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Wireless hand-held microphones | Good audio given the proximity to the source | Difficult to maintain, storage, hygiene concerns, talker needs to hold the microphone |
Wireless clip-on microphones (tie or lavalier microphones) | Good audio, user keeps hands free | Difficult to maintain, storage, hygiene concerns, prone to audio feedback |
Push to talk microphones | Good audio, increases control as the chairperson can mute participants | Hygiene |
Technical testing
Methodology
Installation, deployment and further analysis
Guidance and induction
Staff issue | Recommendation |
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Not knowing the technology | Staff should have already completed training in MS Teams, and they should physically try everything prior to the session with a member of the AV team in the room |
Pedagogy: Students not feeling engaged online and face-to-face | Staff should welcome all students and aim for smooth transitions between sections of their session. Lecturers should ensure that their eyes look equally at the camera and at the students in the room to ensure equity for all students |
Lack of clarity for students in the session | Staff should plan the session appropriately and advise students to be patient. Further, it is important for staff to recognize that things might not work perfectly initially |
Feeling overwhelmed | Staff should avoid doing too much too quickly, and keep it simple. Further, staff should prepare the session well ahead of time and prepare themselves to experience potential issues and delays. Lecturers can have an AV member of staff available at the first couple of sessions. We recognize that the HyFlex approach would not suit everyone and every teaching session |
Safety (Covid-19-related) | All participants should stay two metres apart from each other and wear a face covering. All staff were made aware of Kings’ College London’s guidance on Coronavirus safety and advice on staying safe on campus |
Staff wanting to move around the room | Staff should be aware of where the camera is facing and adjust it if appropriate |
Students online feeling ignored | Staff should make a point of welcoming students and talking to online students throughout the session |